Campaign Against Human Rights Abuses
Allegations of Death Squad Killings From 1980 to 1992:
A. JUANITO SUSI
Juanito Susi, a bodyguard of Richard Gordon and a companion, Danilo Bernabe, were charged with the cold-blooded murder of a minor in broad daylight and in front of many witnesses, at a market in Olongapo City.
Leopito Sison, the murdered boy was executed with a shot to the head for suspicion of being a thief.
Charges were filed against Susi and Bernabe but a judge who was suspected to be enjoying close relationship with Gordon acquitted the two suspects despite eye-witness testimony from two brave witnesses.
B. RUEL RAMOS
Ramos was a prisoner who allegedly escaped detention. The police were able to track him down at Gordon Heights, Olongapo City and subsequently apprehended him.
Moments later, Ruel Ramos was shot and executed by the police led by a senior investigator related to the Gordons.
C. MR. LEGASPI
Legaspi was the Publisher / Editor of the Voice of Zambales who was found dead after criticizing the local authorities.
Mr Legaspi was believed to be killed by the Death Squad which was very notorious in Olongapo then. Trying to document the killings was dangerous in itself. The killings inculcated institutional fear into the population so that they rarely voiced any criticism of the government administration or the leading family or face retaliation.
Thus arose the culture of appeasement and fawning compliance with all government policies. The docility and obedience to the dominating patriarch system was all too familiar to traditional Filipino culture. Today the result is a form of democracy where you vote for the cult or else. This is still true today as the same political family rules Olongapo.
There are many undocumented cases of Human Rights abuses in Olongapo City. The former Judge Gualberto Dela Llana wrote to the then Minister of Defense Juan Ponce Enrile to investigate the mysterious cases of scores of dead bodies found in Olongapo City shortly after the ruling political dynasty assumed power and proclaimed Olongapo as a clean City.
Exploitation Of The Gay Community:
Preda received reports from members of the gay community that they were being forced to parade sometimes in skimpy clothes by local officials during Mardi-Gras or City Fiesta.
Illegal Arrest and Detention Of Street Children:
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Rosie, a 5 year old girl was found by Preda inside the police jail of the Police Precinct 2 in Magsaysay drive together with other street children. This was the time of the American personnel's liberty after their ships docked at the then US Naval Base. |